Writing implement



Y L. P. MARTIN WRITING IMPLEMENT Filed Aug. 1l. 1955 Aug. 13; 1957 WRITING INIPLEMENT Lynn P. Martin, Fort Madison, Iowa, assigner to W. A.

Sheafer Pen Company, Fort Madison, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application August 11, 1953, Serial No. 373,513

`7 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-446) This invention relates to writing implements and more particularly 'to an improved filling means for writing implements. It is an important object ofthis invention 'to provide an improved filling means for fountain pens which willinsure against leakage of writing fluid therefrom.

In filling fountain pens ofthe rtypes `generally known, `the forward portion of the pen is inserted in a body of fluid `and Lthe writing fluid ,is drawn inwardly into a` reser- `Voir contained in :the barrel `of the .pen over `the paths .normally traversed by the 'fluid and air in subsequent Waiting operations. Thus in the filling operation the expansion `.chambers and venting channels provided in 4the forward portion of fountain pens are generally .filled withwritingfluidgcreating a condition -whereby a `change of .pressure vor temperatureesubsequent to `the filling "operation will cause a discharge, of writing fluid from l,the instrument 4.often with concomitant damage `'to clothing and `the like. n .Por this reason itis 'usually necessary to blot or `wipe the pen .point in order to drain fluid conltained `.iuthe expansion chamber and venting passageways.

It is, therefore, yanother object yof this invention to provide `filling vapparatus which will prevent leakage of 'writing fluid from a writing yinstrument `under various atmospheric conditions immediately subsequent to a filling operation.

-It `is 'another object o'f `this invention to provide `irnproved filling apparatus `for fountain Vpens which will purge the communicating channels and expansion chamberscf 4fluid vimmediately subsequent to filling.

Itis another object of this invention to provide improved .filling apparatus for fountain pens which will .automatically drain the expansion 'chamber thereof.

It is still another object of this invention to provide improved filling apparatus for fountain pens which will automatically clear'the-expansion chamber duringa filling operation.

:It Ais a further object of this invention to provide automatic means for clearing'the expansion `chambers of .a .ifouutainxpen immediately subsequent yto a filling operation, said means 4being actuated upon `conditioning the pen for Writing'.

4Further Vand additional objects ofthis inventionxwill appear from a .consideration of this description', the accompanying adrawing, and the `appended claims.

`In `one embodiment Vof this invention a Vfountainpen tis provided having'a `barrehand a flexiblesac contained therein. The flexible sac comprises Va fluid :reservoir :and is tin "communication With a writing portion positioned `at the forward'end of thelaarrel;v VMeansiszprovided for substantially collapsing the Vsac-to effect the drawing :inwardly of fluid 'from lthe writing :portion vduring isubsequent `sac expansion. A lever for "other means is `provided which is associated with the filling means Iand Va'ctuated upon `completion offa filling pperation Ito 'reduce temporarily the :available volume for 'the flexible sac reservoir :either `to Aprevent maximum expansion fof the 2,802,449 Patented Aug. 13, 1957 `flexible reservoir or to expel a portion of writing fluid therefrom. During the filling step, the writing point and the expansion chambers are normally immersed in the fluid supply, and upon conditioning the fountain fpen for writing `(after withdrawal of the writing portion from the fluid supply), the lever is shifted to its normal position, allowing the flexible sac to expand to its normal position, drawing fluid from the expansion chamber back into the reservoir. In other words, since the pen is removed from 'the body of fluid prior to conditioning the pen for writing, the fluid drawn into the `reservoir at that time results in evacuation of the expansion chamber whichis provided in the writing portion. Thus, though the expansion chamber and communicating passageways from the point to the reservoir are chargedwith writing fluid during a filling operation, conditioning the pen for writing `will cause the fluid contained therein to be withdrawn into lthe reservoir, leaving the air venting passageways land expansion chamber clear.

For ra more complete understanding of this invention AICC l reference :should be made to the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View of one embodiment lof this invention;

`Fig. 2 is'an enlarged partial view of the central por- :tion` of Fig. Il, illustrating the change of position during a filling operation;

Fig. f3! illustrates 'the vsac collapsing mechanism utilized in the embodiment of Fig. 1;

`Fig. 4 is alongitudinal-sectional view of a .second embodiment 'of this invention; and

Fig. 5., is a sectional `view taken along the line 5`5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figlltf, a fountain pen J1() is provided having a barrel 12 'containing rar reservoir 14 which kcomprises a flexible sac. A Writing portion 16 is positioned forwardly of `the reservoir 14 and in communication therewith. The writing kportion comprises a nib 18 having -a capillary .slit y20 ytherein communicating with a writing point 22.

The slit 20 terminates in a pierce 24, the slit and ,pierce being juxtaposed against a capillary fissure 26 formed in a feed bar A28. The feed bar 28 Ahas a central aperture :therein which receives a tubular member 3l) containing an `insert 32 which provides a fluid passageway .from the forward end-of the feed bar 28 to the reservoir 14. The insert 32 has `a cross section whereby a large channel 34 is provided which will readily lpass fluid Vupwardly `duringa 'filling operation and a restricted passageway 36 comprising a groove in the insert 32 of capillary `dimensions which will `provide a fluid passageway during .both filling and writing operations, all as disclosed `in the copending'application of Lynn P. Martin, Serial No. 368,852, filed July 20, 1953. The passageway 34 will generally beicleared of fluid Aduring l'writing and provide `an air passageway whereby the `reservoir k14 is vented tothe atmosphere to `insure free flow of fluid therefrom. During writing, fluid flows from the reservoir 14 along 'the capillarypath 36 Vto a capillary slot 35 formed inthe .forward end of insert 32. The lcapillary slot 35 is aligned with a corresponding `capillary aperture 87 lin `the tube 3f) which passes fluid :to the juxtaposedcapillary fissure v'26 in the feed ibar 2S.` A comb-like expansion 'chamber 27 is formed in the feed bar 28 in communication with .the fissure 26@ The annular comb cuts 27 .formed around the bar 28 are `of such dimension that they will l'not `riormally be` charged `with Writing fluid but will Vretain fluid .in fhe event 'that atmospheric conditions cause a `discharge 'from the reservoir 14. The writing portion l16 is secured fin `the barrel 12 by V`frictional engagement lin a ecllar 3B which threadably engages a :gripping section l iff?. The gripping section v40 is "in "turn threadably inserted within barrel 12. The flexible reservoir 14 is secured to the rearward portion of the gripping section 40 at juncture 42, and an air tight seal therebetween is insured either by clamping or crimping by a 'suitable ring (not shown) or by appropriate cernenting.

The lling mechanism of this embodiment is similar to that disclosed in Martin Patent No. 2,610,612 and comprises a telescoping tube 44 which is reciprocable within the barrel 12 to producean air chamber therein of varying volume depending upon the relative positioning of the tube and the barrel. A substantially airtight seal is provided between the tube and barrel by the annular packing gland 46. A coaxial sheath 48 is provided to surround the flexible reservoir 14 and to prevent engagement of the telescoping tube 44 therewith during reciprocation. Thus the reservoir 14 is maintained in its substantially longitudinal extended position without being collapsed or distorted by contact with the reciprocating parts.

A longitudinally extending groove 50 is formed in theV tube 44 at the rearward portionthereof to provide a by pass from the internal chamber to an air vent 52 formed in the pen barrel 12. Thus when the tube is in the position shown in Fig. l the internal chamber is continuously vented to the atmosphere through groove 59 and vent 52, whereby atmospheric conditions are maintained within the chamber. Furthermore, when lling the pen herein described the tube 44, which is secured to the cap 54 of the barrel by screw 70, is reciprocated, moving backwardly or to the right in Fig. l, and then returned to a position approaching that shown in Fig. 1, while the writing portion 16 is maintained within a body of uid. During the return motion, the chamber within the barrel 12 is substantially reduced in volume, causing a compression of the air within the chamber and consequent collapse of the reservoir 14. Upon completion of the reciprocating travel the groove 50 bridges the packing gland 46, venting the chamber to the atmosphere and allowing the flexible sac 14 to return to its normal dimensions. This will cause the fluid to rise upwardly through the channels 34 and 36 to substantially ll the sac 14.

While a single groove Sti is generally found suicient, a plurality of grooves may be provided for more adequate venting.

The tube 44 will not assume the position shown in Fig. 1 solely upon axial movement of the tube and cap 54. Such axial movement will bring the forward end of '.cap 54 into abutting relationship with the outermost thread of threads 56, which will determine the extent of axial retraction of the mechanism. When the cap 54 has assumed this position, the parts will be relatively disposed as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the forward iiange 58 of tube 44 is in engagement with protrusions 6@ extending outwardly from the legs 62 of a resilient member 68 which lie longitudinally juxtaposed along a substantial portion of the flexible sac 14. The protrusions 60 extend outwardly through apertures 64 in the sheath 48. Thus upon completing the axial motion of tube 44 over the reservoir 14, the reservoir expands to a diameter somewhat less than its normal maximum diameter at the forward end thereof, whereby the reservoir is not filled to its maximum capacity but is capable of drawing a small quantity of iluid therein when the sac 14 is permitted to extend to its maximum dimensions. Thus upon rotating cap 54 relative to barrel 12, the corresponding threaded portions 56 thereof will engage, producing an additional axial movement of tube 44, which results in the forward flange 53 of the tube 44 assuming a position U whereby protrusions 69 spring outwardly and are disposed within the annularly formed portion 72 of tube 44 in the position shown in Fig. l. During the rotation of cap 54 for conditioning the pen for writing, the writing ,portion 16 of the fountain pen will have been withdrawn from the body of fluid, whereby the additional expansion i of sac 14 to its full diameter in the forward portion adorV temperature.

jacent tothe resilient member 68 will draw the writing fluid contained within channel 34 and expansion chamber 27 rearwardly into the reservoir. Thus if the fountain pen is then placed in a pocket or the like for storage without wiping or blotting, the channel 34 and the expansion chamber 27 will have been cleared of writing fluid, whereby changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature will cause the excess fluid discharged from the reservoir 14 to be safely retained within the chamber and channel, thus avoiding undesirable leakage.

The resilient member 68 which is contained within the sheath 48 and in contact with flexible sac 14 is clearly shown in Fig. 3. As there shown, the longitudinal portions 62 are resiliently connected by a curved end p0rtion 66 at the rearward end thereof, and protrusions 60 extend outwardly from each of the longitudinal members 62. The member 68 is retained within the sheath 48 by resilient engagement therewith and is maintained in the desired position by the protrusions 60 extending outwardly through apertures 64. Y

The embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5 operates in substantially the same manner as that above described. This embodiment utilizes the same filling means as that shown above, which includes a resilient sac reservoir 14 contained within a sheathJiS and is collapsible under compression resulting from reciprocation of the telescoping tube 44 maintained in sealing engagement with the barrel 12 by the packing gland 46. The tube 44 is secured to cap 54 by a screw 70 as above described. The chamber within barrel 12 is vented to the atmosphere through 10ngitudinally extending groove 50. and aperture 52 in barrel 12. In this embodiment a member 68 is provided which is substantially identical'to the member 68 of Fig. l and has a pair of protrusions 60 extending outwardly through apertures in the sheath 48. The protrusions 60 are engageable by the forward flange 58 of the tube 44 during a normal filling operation to reduce the maximum volume of the expanded sac 14 as a result of the displacement of member 68. Upon conditioning the fountain pen for writing by threadably engaging cap 54 with barrel 12, the protrusions 60 will extend outwardly into an annular recess 72 formed in telescoping tube 44 rearwardly of forward ange 58, whereby member 68 will shift outwardly to lie against sheath 48, thus allowing sac 14 to expand to its maximum dimensions. As described above, this additional expansion will draw writing fluid upwardly from the expansion chamber into the reservoir.

The writing portion 74 of the pen of Fig. 4 comprises a nib 76 having a capillary slit 78 extending between a pierce 80 and writing point 82. The nib 76 substantially surrounds a feed bar 84 which has a capillary fissure 86 extending through the major portion thereof and communicating with an axial bore 88. A plurality of comb cuts are formed about the periphery of feed bar 84 to provide an expansion chamber to retain excess writing uid under unusual conditions of atmospheric pressure A transverse channel 92 is provided to connect the axial bore 88 with the expansion chamber to facilitate flow of uid and air therebetween.

Thus in filling, the forward end of the implement is Yimmersed and writing uid is drawn upwardly through the various openings in the lower portion of the feed bar 84 and enters the axial bore 88 to ll reservoir 14. In writing, however, fluid will be withdrawn from axial bore 88 through fissure 86 which latter is in communication with the capillary slit 78 to provide writing fluid to point 82. During writing, scoop cut 94, transverse channel 92 and comb cuts 90 will be cleared of writing iuid tovprovide an air vent to replace the fluid used'in writing and thus insure steady fluid ow. By this'invention the transverse channel 92, scoop cut 94, and comb cuts 90 will be cleared immediately subsequent to a lling operation by the operation of resilient member 68. The fluid will be Withdrawn from these relatively large channels by the cohesion of the uid molecules whereby the channels will bev substantially cleared' wine-in' tlreeatrapmn of an within nthe reservoir. fI-his has yalso been-'found '-to 1tje true -in "the embodimentjof lFigll'. i Therein it has been-found that substantially all of 'the )fluid -contained'v within 'the `channel 34 and expansion chambers 27 will bewithdr'awn "therefrom into the reservoir 14`before any air *will `be yhaving a fuid expansion chamber, a collapsible `resilient generally tubular-fluid vreservoir in communication with saildexpansion chamber, a tubular member surrounding said reservoir, a tububetween extended and coextending positions relative to said tubular member, and means defining a uid vent passageway providing communication between the sealed chamber and the atmosphere when said tubular sleeve is substantially in the coextending position; means for draining the expansion chamber subsequent to a filling operation comprising an elongate resilient reservoir engaging member axially fixed in said instrument, said resilient member and said tubular sleeve having axially aligned normally interiitted portions and said sleeve having an adjacent inwardly extending portion momentarily engageable with the intertted portion of said resilient member upon relative movement of said sleeve to momentarily depress said resilient member against the reservoir to elect partial collapse of said reservoir, said reservoir assuming its normal tubular shape following said momentary collapse.

2. In a writing instrument, a tiuid expansion chamber, a collapsible resilient generally tubular fluid reservoir in communication with said expansion chamber, a tubular member surroundingsaid reservoir, a tubular sleeve associated with said tubular member to form ,a sealed chamber enclosing said reservoir and axially slidable between extended and coextending positions relative to said tubular member, means defining a uid vent passageway providing communication between the sealed Chamberland the atmosphere when said tubular sleeve is substantially in the coextending position, and means for draining the expansion chamber subsequent to a lling operation comprising an elongate resilient reservoir engaging member axially xed in said instrument, said resilient member and said tubular sleeve having axially aligned normally intertted portions and said sleeve having an adjacent inwardly extending portion momentarily engageable with the interfitted portion of said resilient member upon relative movement of said sleeve to momentarily depress said resilient member against the reservoir to elect partial collapse of said reservoir, said reservoir assuming its normal tubular shape following said momentary collapse.

3. In a Writing instrument having a fluid expansion chamber, a collapsible resilient generally tubular fluid reservoir in communication with said expansion chamber, a tubular member surrounding said reservoir, a tubular sleeve associated with said tubular member to form a sealed chamber enclosing said reservoir and axially slidable between extended and coextending positions relative to said tubular member, and means deiining a uid vent passageway providing communication between the sealed chamber and the atmosphere when said tubular sleeve.

is substantially in the coextending position; means for draining the expansion chamber subsequent to a filling operation comprising a resilient reservoir engaging member axially fixed in said instrument, and protrusion means v'20 lar sleeve associated vwith said tubularfmember to form a sealed-chamber enclosing saidreservoir-aud axiallyvslidable 4extendingoutwardly from said resilient niernber, said tubular sleeve normallysurrounding said resilient member and having a portion intertted with Asaid protrusion .and

San adjacent portion extending'inwardly from said inter- Atitted portion wherebysaid adjacent portion engages said 'protrusion means lupon/movement of said sleeve to the coextending'positionto momentarily depress said resilient member inwardly fa'gainst said reservoir to effect `partial Vcollapse `of said reservoir, said 'reservoir assuming Vits normal'tubular shape following said momentary collapse.

4. 11n a 'writing 4instrument fhavin'g a `fluid Aexpansion chamber, a collapsible resilient generally `tubular fluid vreservoir in 'communication "with said expansion charnber, a tubular member surrounding said reservoir, atubular sleeve associated with said tubular-member to ifo'rm a Lsealedfchambjer enclosing said reservoir and axially slidable between extended and"co'extending positions relative fto `said tubular'fmember, and means detining'a'uid ventpassageway providing communication between the sealed vchamber and the atmosphere when said tubular sleeve Sli's substantially in the coextending position; `means for draining the expansion chamber subsequent to a fiillng `operation:comprising a longitudinallyextending resiliently `wardly extending portion engageable therewith during movement of said sleeve to the coextending position when said sleeve is substantially in the coextending position whereby said resilient member momentarily compresses said reservoir, said reservoir assuming its normal tubular shape following said momentary compression.

5. In a writing instrument having a fluid expansion chamber, a collapsible resilient generally tubular fluid reservoir in communication with said expansion chamber, a tubular member surrounding said reservoir, a tubular sleeve associated with said tubular member to form a sealed chamber enclosing said reservoir and axially slidable between extended and coextending positions relative to said tubular member, and means dening a fluid vent passageway providing .communication between the sealed chamber and the atmosphere when said tubular sleeve is substantially in the coextending position; means for draining the expansion chamber subsequent to a lling operation comprising a rigid apertured sheath mounted in said instrument and surrounding said reservoir within said tubular member and sleeve, a longitudinally extending resilient member mounted within said sheath in juxtaposition with said reservoir, protruding means extending outwardly from said resilient member through the apertured portions of said sheath, and a protrusion on said sleeve axially aligned and interl'itting with said protruding means and having an adjacent inwardly extending por-tion engageable therewith during movement of said sleeve to the coextending position and when said sleeve is substantially in the coextending position whereby said resilient member momentarily compresses said reservoir, said reservoir assuming its normalktubular shape following said momentary compression.

6. In a writing instrument, an instrument body, a fluid expansion chamber mounted in said body, a collapsible resilient generally tubular iiuid reservoir within said body in communication with said expansion chamber, a tubular sleeve axially slidable between 'extended and coextending positions relative to said body, annular seal means between said body and tubular member to form a sealed chamber enclosing said reservoir, means defining a fluid vent passageway by-passing said seal means when said sleeve is substantially in the coextending position, a rigid apertured sheath mounted in said body and surrounding said reservoir within said sleeve, a longitudinally extending resilient member mounted within said sheath in juxtaposition with said reservoir, protruding means extending outwardly from said resilient member throughI the apertured portions of said sheath, and a protrusion on said sleeve axially aligned with said protruding means and having an adjacent inwardly extending portion engageable therewith during movement of said sleeve to thevcoextending position rand when said sleeve is substantially in the coextending position whereby said'resilient member is depressed inwardly against said reservoirto momentarily compress said reservoir, said reservoir assuming its normal tubular shape following said momentary compression.

7. In a writing instrument, an instrument body, arfluid expansion chamber mounted in said body, a collapsible resilient generally tubular iluid'reservoir. within said body in communication with said expansion chamber, a tubular sleeve axially slidable betweenextended and coextending positions relative to said body, a cap portion mounted on said sleeve and threadedly engaging said body when said sleeve is substantially in the coextending position, annular seal means between said body and :tubular'member to form a sealed chamber enclosing said reservoir, means defining a iluid vent passageway by-passing said seal means when said sleeve is substantially in the coextending position, a rigid apertured sheath mounted in said body, and surrounding said reservoir within said sleeve, a longitudinally extending resilient member mounted within saidsheath in juxtaposition withsaid reservoir, protruding means `extending outwardly from said resilient Vmember through' the apertured portions of'said sheath, and a protrusion on said sleeve axially aligned'withsaid protruding means and having an adjacent inwardly extending portion engageable therewith during movement of said sleeve to the coextending position and when said sleeveis threadedly engaged with` said body and substantially in the coextending'position` whereby said resilient'member is depressed inwardlyjagainst said reservoir Vto momentarily compress said reservoir, said-reservoir assuming its normal tubularshapegfollowing said momentary compression.

References Cited in the le of this patent` f i i v UNITED STATES `PATENTS 20 2,610,612 Maninr r v sept 16,1952

FOREIGN PirENrsv t 822,691 I France1 r j sept. 27, 1937 

